| Bikini Atoll | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London, UK |
| Genres | Post-rock |
| Years active | 1999–2006 |
| Labels | Bella Union (UK) |
| Associated acts | Joe Gideon & The Shark |
| Website | batoll.com |
Bikini Atoll was a post-rock band formed in London, though Ché Albrighton is from Jugenheim, Germany, and Bastian Juel is from Denmark.[1] The band was signed to the Bella Union label in 2004. They released two albums, Moratoria in 2004 and Liar's Exit in 2005.[2]
Contents |
Joe Gideon (real name Gideon Joel Seifert) is the older brother of Viva Seifert.[1] Viva competed at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992 as a rhythmic gymnast, competing in the qualifying rounds.[3] Ché Albrighton is the son of Roye Albrighton, the guitarist and vocalist of 1970s prog rock band Nektar.[1] Bastian Juel moved to the UK in 1998.[1]
Though the band was fully formed in 1999, they didn't do any formal recording until 2002, between August and October, when they recorded the Moratoria album. This was mastered between December of that year and January 2003.[2] They were noticed by, former Cocteau Twins member, Simon Raymonde and signed to his[4] record label, Bella Union.[5] The album received a positive review in The Independent, being described as "...an awesome, soul-searching slice of sprawling Americana."[6] and the Drowned in Sound website described the music as "...beautiful and deadly".[7] The double-A-side release Desolation Highway/Then Amplify was runner up in NME's Single of The Week;[5] Desolation Highway was also used on the film My Little Eye.[8]
Liar's Exit was recorded and mixed by Steve Albini in Chicago, between 7–20 September 2004. It was then released in June 2005, again gaining encouraging reviews in both NME and Q Magazine.[2] The single from this album, "Eve's Rib" was released in May 2005.[2] After the release of this album, the band were invited to perform a session for Xfm.[9]
Bikini Atoll disbanded in October 2006. The Seifert siblings formed Joe Gideon & The Shark. Ché Albrighton has played with Audioporn,[10] Lynch Rider Lulu,[11] and Clock Opera.[12] Bastian Juel toured with Heather Nova.[13]
Photos from a recent FOE gig - a friend of our friends Hold Your Horse Is - she’s gonna be big!!! Read the gig review after the jump.
Shots of North Carolina’s folk-rocking Avett Brothers’ stop in Glasgow - 22.08.11
Read the review of the gig here.
Take a look at the acts and art on offer at this year’s Latitude Festival in Suffolk. Included are the likes of Fight Like Apes, Lykke Li, Sea of Bees and Seasick Steve. Photos from our own...
Good time with Bad Guys. Photos from the May 29th gig at the Old Blue Last. Read the review by the Bad Guy himself, Stuart London after the jump.
Artrocker.com exclusive: for fans of White Lies and Crocodiles we’ve got some fresh pictures from their UK show at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire earlier this month, courtesy of Alessandro...
Follow us on
twitter here